Airwaves

by Brian Golslow

Sound the sirens! The Olympia bands have re-empowered the female rock-and-roll community, just in time for next week's Worcester Gay, Lesbian, and Bi-Sexual Pride festivities, which feature an appearance by Phranc. The Lesbian rocker, who'll appear at Institute Park on May 31, broke into the underground as a member of Nervous Gender and Catholic Discipline, who played a starring role in the LA punk documentary The Decline of Western Civilization.

"Phranc is a woman of integrity," says Double Dare Ya co-host Shirley Oleary. "She should be luscious live." Last year, she tipped her sailor cap to the younger generation by putting her latest CD, Goofyfoot, out on Kill Rock Stars. "`Bulldagger Swagger' is one of my favorite songs," Oleary says.

The other half of the Double Dare Ya line-up, Judy Ricardi, has been catching up on some old friends during her Wednesday-night 9 to 10:30 p.m. shift on WCUW (91.3 FM). "Allison and Erin of Bratmobile are at it again with Cold Cold Hearts," she says. "This [Kill Rock Stars] CD makes you smile and dance. My favorite tracks are `Any Resemblance to Persons Living or Dead is Purely Coincidental' and `1-2-3,' which takes on the elitist boy bands."

The Vegas Beat (Candy Ass/Live Transmission) features two members of Team Dresch V6.0., drummer Marci Martinez (who was with the Team when they played Worcester in 1994) and Amanda Kelly. "This is raw Pacific Northwest punk rock, queer style," says Ricardi. "Madigan of Tattletale sings on `Pitfall' and `To the Fortunate Ones.'"

Former Team Dresch member Kaia's debut solo CD (Chainsaw/Candy Ass) follows the softer tone set by her earlier 45 release. "The liner notes say, `Finally, an album for the whole family,'" Ricardi laughs. "`No Sides' and `16' are the best love/breakup songs. The lyrics of `Salamander' go, `Bending forwards and back, losing myself when I needed me most.'"

Perhaps what Kaia needs is Me'Shell Ndegéocello's Peace Beyond Passion (Maverick). "This album is spiritual and intense, sexy and funky. `Leviticus: Faggot' is about the realities of being gay in an oppressive society, while `Bittersweet' is a slow, right on, love song."

Speaking of right on, what hasn't been said about Sleater-Kinney's Dig Me Out (Kill Rock Stars)? "Of course, this is at the top of my list of current favorites," says Laura Kiritsy, host of the Adult Children's Dysfunction Room, heard Thursdays from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. on WCUW. "I caught their live show at the Middle East -- it was very high-energy, and they sounded great. Most of the performance consisted of cuts off the new disc, including `Little Babies,' `Words and Guitar,' and `The Drama You Created,' which are kind of poppy, punky fun stuff. It's already a classic as far as I'm concerned."

Ani DiFranco's just had twins. Living in Clip (Righteous Babe) is a double, live CD. "The tracks were recorded all over the US on her last tour, including `Fire Door,' recorded at Mechanics Hall," Kiritsy explains. "Some tracks were recorded with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Doc Severinson, including my favorite track, `Amazing Grace.'"

And before you think she's going soft on you, Kiritsy submits her latest dose of angst -- Jane Jensen's Comic Book Whore (Flip/Interscope). "Her stuff is kind of an industrial, techno sound, à la Nine Inch Nails, only with a female twist. My favorite cuts include `More Than I Can' and `Listen,' both in-your-face, kiss-my-ass songs, and `Luv Song,' a poppy, twangy tune, probably the only happy song on the disc."